Neighbors screamed in outrage at police as they took a boy, not even old enough to drive, away in handcuffs. The teen is accused of stealing guns from sporting goods stores across the Charlotte area. Three thefts have occurred at Dick's Sporting Goods stores within the past week. Police said five shotguns and athletic shoes were stolen.On Thursday, CMPD went to the west Charlotte, NC home where the 15-year-old and his mother reside to look for evidence. They said it was something they found outside that tipped them off.
Cpt. Andy Leonard said just a couple of days after the thefts there were reports of someone firing shotguns in the Boulevard Homes community. Detectives also knew about the shotguns stolen from Dick's so they decided to question the teen.
"We're not allowed in the house. The people inside wouldn't let us in, so we went around back to a common area and officers found property from Dick's, packaging from Dick's," Leonard said.
That was enough to get a search warrant. Once inside the home, police and federal agents found only one of the guns stolen from Dick's. They arrested the teen and now, Leonard said, they're working to get the other guns off the streets.
"Kids with guns are dangerous -- they can be used for robberies. They don't understand the consequences. Earlier this week when the guns were fired, they hit some cars. Bullets, when they go out, end up some place," he said.
The juvenile is charged with breaking and entering and larceny of a firearm. Police said they're also looking into the possibility that the teen could be responsible for a break-in at Citi Trends clothing store on Freedom Drive in west Charlotte. Source: WSOC-TV